Power Drop Assembly

ABSTRACT

A power drop assembly is disclosed which, in general, includes a power cord housing, a reel, a power cord, a female power outlet, an electrical input, switching circuitry, and a controller. The reel is positioned within the power cord housing. The reel is rotatably connected to the power cord housing. The power cord is mechanically attached to the reel. The female power outlet is mechanically and electrically attached to the power cord. The switching circuitry is electrically connected to the electrical input. The switching circuitry selectively, electrically connects the electrical input and the power cord. The switching circuitry is electrically connected to the power cord. The controller is communicatively connected to the switching circuitry for controlling the switching circuitry.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/526,523, filed Jun. 29, 2017, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of smart home devices, andmore specifically to smart power devices.

BACKGROUND

Garages, workshops, warehouses, and the like, are common areas wheretools, such as power tools are used. Tools are often electricallypowered. Whether wired or wireless, electrical tools need to beconnected to electrical power for some interval at time. In workspaces,it is often convenient to have power in spaces that are not necessarilynearby a wall mounted outlet. For these applications, drop down powerreceptacles (that are attached to an overhead outlet, for example) maybe particularly beneficial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An invention has been developed in response to present state of the artand, in particular, in response to problems and needs in the art thathave not yet been fully solved by currently available systems andmethods. Accordingly, a power drop assembly has been developed. Featuresand advantages of different embodiments of the invention will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,or may be learned by practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

A power drop assembly is disclosed which, in general, includes a powercord housing, a reel, a power cord, a female power outlet, an electricalinput, switching circuitry, and a controller. The reel is positionedwithin the power cord housing. The reel is rotatably connected to thepower cord housing. The power cord is mechanically attached to the reel.The female power outlet is mechanically and electrically attached to thepower cord. The switching circuitry is electrically connected to theelectrical input. The switching circuitry selectively, electricallyconnects the electrical input and the power cord. The switchingcircuitry is electrically connected to the power cord. The controller iscommunicatively connected to the switching circuitry for controlling theswitching circuitry.

The power drop assembly may further include power throttling circuitryelectrically connected to the power cord. The power throttling circuitrymay allow variable amounts of power to be consumed via the power cord.The switching circuitry may include electrical usage circuitry formonitoring electrical usage of the power cord. The electrical input mayinclude a power rail input. The electrical input may include a malepower input. The electrical input may include a female power output.

The power drop assembly may further include a wireless transceivercommunicatively connected to the controller. The power drop assembly mayfurther include a motor mechanically attached to the reel. The motor mayalso be mechanically attached to the power cord housing.

The power drop assembly may further include a spring mechanicallyattached to the reel. The spring may also be mechanically attached tothe power cord housing. The power drop assembly may further include adamper mechanically attached to the reel. The damper may also bemechanically attached to the power cord housing. The power drop assemblymay further include a tilt lock mechanism mechanically attached to thereel. The tilt lock mechanism may also be mechanically attached to thepower cord housing. The power drop assembly may further include avelocity lock mechanism mechanically attached to the reel. The velocitylock mechanism may also be mechanically attached to the power cordhousing. The power drop assembly may further include a hose reel stoppermechanically attached to the power cord.

The power drop assembly may further include multiple female poweroutlets mechanically and electrically attached to the power cord. Atleast one of the multiple female power outlets may include a lightattached to the at least one of the multiple female power outlets. Thelight may also be electrically connected to the power cord. At least oneof the multiple female power outlets may include a sprinkler systemattached to the at least one of the multiple female power outlets. Thesprinkler system may also be electrically connect to the power cord.

The switching circuitry may include a circuit breaker. The circuitbreaker may be a relay electrically connected to the controller. Thepower cord housing may include mounting brackets mechanically attachedto a top portion of the power cord housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described aboveis made below by reference to specific embodiments. Several embodimentsare depicted in drawings included with this application, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front cut-away view of a power drop assembly;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with power throttlingcircuitry;

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with electrical usagecircuitry;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a power rail input;

FIG. 5 depicts a side cut-away view of a power drop assembly;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 5 with a spring;

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 6 with a lock mechanism;

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a light;

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 8 with a sprinkler; and

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a circuit breaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of the claimed invention is provided below byexample, with reference to embodiments in the appended figures. Those ofskill in the art will recognize that components of the invention asdescribed by example in the figures below could be arranged and designedin a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detaileddescription of the embodiments in the figures is merely representativeof embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scopeof the invention as claimed.

Numbering corresponding to the appended figures is provided, whereinlike numbering corresponds to like embodiments. Each pair of endingnumerals, of numbering corresponding to components of figures, indicatesan example embodiment of a corresponding component. It should beunderstood that while each pair of ending numerals corresponds to acomponent of the invention, components belonging to separate figures mayhave differing configurations or functionality.

It may be desirable to control electrical current and power to tools andother equipment. A smart power delivery assembly is described herein.The assembly may be designed to interconnect, via power orcommunication, to other smart home devices. The assembly may providepower based on a programmable schedule of events for providing power.The assembly may provide power consumption feedback of devices poweredvia the assembly. The assembly may include a circuit breaker to preventoverloading of the assembly and/or devices connected to the assembly.

FIG. 1 depicts a front cut-away view of a power drop assembly. Powerdrop assembly 100 includes power cord housing 102, reel 104, power cord106, female power outlet 108, electrical input 110, switching circuitry112, and controller 114. Reel 104 is positioned within and rotatablyconnected to power cord housing 102. Power cord 106 is mechanicallyattached to reel 104. Female power outlet 108 is mechanically andelectrically attached to power cord 106. Switching circuitry 112 iselectrically connected to electrical input 110. Switching circuitry 112selectively, electrically connects electrical input 110 and power cord106. Switching circuitry 112 is also electrically connected to powercord 106. Controller 114 is communicatively connected to switchingcircuitry 112 for controlling switching circuitry 112.

Electrical input 110 may be electrically connected to switchingcircuitry 112 wirelessly or via wiring 116. Electrical input 110 andswitching circuitry 112 may each include wireless power transfer coilsfor inductive coupling of electrical input 110 and switching circuitry112.

Power cord 106 may be electrically connected to switching circuitry 112via wiring 118. Switching circuitry 112 may be communicatively connectedto controller 114 wirelessly or via wire 120. Wiring 118 may beconnected with power cord 106 via a rotating electrical connector.

Electrical input 110 may be electrically connected to a power sourcesuch as a power outlet. Instructions may be sent from controller 114 toswitching circuitry 112. Switching circuitry 112 may subsequently allowor disallow electrical current to flow through electrical input 110 topower cord 106. An electrical device may be electrically connected tofemale power outlet 108. While switching circuitry 112 allows currentflow through power cord 106, the electrical device may draw power frompower cord 106 through female power outlet 108.

Controller 114 may include calendar instructions to send instructions toswitching circuitry 112, to either allow or disallow current flowthrough power cord 106, according to hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, oryearly calendar instructions. For example, controller 114 may includecalendar instructions which cause controller 114 to send instructions toswitching circuitry 112 such that switching circuitry 112 allows currentflow through power cord 106 during a first set of hours of day.Controller 114 may also include calendar instructions which causecontroller 114 to send instructions to switching circuitry 112 such thatswitching circuitry 112 disallows current flow through power cord 106during a second set of hours of day.

Reel 104 may be rotatably connected to power cord housing 102 with anyof a variety of means, including ball bearing(s), roller bearing(s), orjournal bearing(s).

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with power throttlingcircuitry. Power drop assembly 200 may further include power throttlingcircuitry 220. Power throttling circuitry 220 may be electricallyconnected to power cord 206. Power throttling circuitry 220 may allowvariable amounts of power to be consumed via power cord 206. Forexample, current passing through power throttling circuitry 220 maybegin to exceed a preset current threshold. Power throttling circuitry220 may limit current passing through power throttling circuitry 220 tobelow or at the preset current threshold.

Controller 214 may be communicatively connected to power throttlingcircuitry. For example, controller 214 may send instructions to powerthrottling circuitry 220 and power throttling circuitry 220 may limit anamount of current flow across power throttling circuitry 220 inaccordance with the instructions sent by controller 214. Controller 214may receive current flow data from power throttling circuitry 220.Controller 214 may instruct power throttling circuitry 220 to limitcurrent flow based on any of a number of criteria, including time ofday, time of week, time of month, or time of year.

Electrical input 210 may include male power input 222. Male power input222 may include power input cord 224. Electrical input 210 may includefemale power output 226. Female power output 226 may allow for multipleof power drop assembly 200 to be electrically connected in a daisychain, where a daisy chain is an electrical connection scheme in whichmultiple devices are electrically connected together in sequence or in aring.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with electrical usagecircuitry. Switching circuitry 312 of power drop assembly 300 mayinclude electrical usage circuitry 328 for monitoring electrical usageof power cord 306. Power drop assembly 300 may further include wirelesstransceiver 330. Wireless transceiver 330 may be communicativelyconnected to controller 314.

Electrical usage circuitry 328 may collect electrical usage datacorresponding to current through, electrical impedance of, phase shiftof electrical current through, and potential difference across switchingcircuitry 312. Electrical usage circuitry 328 may subsequently send theelectrical usage data to controller 314. Controller 314 may store theelectrical usage data. Controller 314 may send the electrical usage datato a peripheral device of a user via wireless transceiver 330. The usermay subsequently access the electrical usage data via the peripheraldevice. The mentioned peripheral device may be any of a variety ofdevices, including a smart phone, a tablet, or a laptop. Electricalusage data may include a timestamp from a time when it is collected byelectrical usage circuitry 328 or from a time when it is received bycontroller 314.

In some embodiments, the electrical usage data may be analyzed toidentify patterns and usage characteristics. The identified patterns andusage characteristics may be compared and analyzed with respect to otherdata (e.g., proximity sensor data, schedule data, etc.) to determinepredicted usage schedules. These predicted usage schedules may enable“smart” operation where the power drop assembly 300 learns andanticipates needs. This learning behavior may be optimized for reducingpower consumption, for optimizing battery performance (of powereddevices, for example), for providing access control, and the like. Insome embodiments, long term electrical usage data may be used todetermine maintenance and replacement notifications for particularpowered devices.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a power rail input.Electrical input 410 of power drop assembly 400 may include power railinput 432. Power cord housing 402 may include mounting brackets 434mechanically attached to a top portion of power cord housing 402. Powerrail input 432 may receive electrical current via a powered rail. Powerrail input 432 may receive power using any of a variety of means,including wireless power transfer or wired power transfer.

Mounting brackets 434 may include apertures 436 which may be used tomount to a bracket attached to a support structure. For example, a railmay be attached to a ceiling of a room. Mounting brackets 434 may befixed to the rail using pins attached to the rail and inserted intoapertures 436. Furthermore, the pins may be electrically connected to apower source via the rail. The power source may transfer electricalcurrent to power rail input 432 via said pins.

FIG. 5 depicts a side cut-away view of a power drop assembly. Power dropassembly 500 may include motor 538 mechanically attached to reel 504 andmechanically attached to power cord housing 502. Motor 538 may turn reel504 such that power cord 506 coils or uncoils around reel 504;subsequently, female power outlet 508 may raise or lower, respectively.

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 5 with a spring. Power dropassembly 600 may include spring 640 mechanically attached to reel 604.Spring 640 may also be mechanically attached to power cord housing 602.Spring 640 may store mechanical energy as power cord 606 is uncoiledfrom reel 604, angularly displacing reel 604. Spring 640 may be arotational spring.

For example, female power outlet 608 may be pulled with a force awayfrom power cord housing 602. Power cord 606 may subsequently be pulledin a direction corresponding to the force such that power cord 606 isuncoiled from reel 604. Spring 640 may store energy and induce a tensionin power cord 606 as a function of angular displacement of reel 604. Ifthe force is released, then the tension in power cord 606 and the energystored in spring 640 may cause reel 604 to angularly displace and powercord 606 to re-coil about reel 604. Spring 640 may store energy as alinear or non-linear function of angular displacement of reel 604.

Power drop assembly 600 may further include damper 642 mechanicallyattached to reel 604. Damper 642 may be mechanically attached to powercord housing 602. Damper 642 may be a rotational damper. Damper 642 maydissipate energy and induce a tension in power cord 606 as a function ofangular velocity of reel 604. For example, female power outlet 608 maybe pulled with a force away from power cord housing 602. Power cord 606may subsequently be pulled in a direction corresponding to the forcesuch that power cord 606 is uncoiled from reel 604. Spring 640 may storeenergy and induce a tension in power cord 606 as a function of angulardisplacement of reel 604. Damper 642 may dissipate energy and induce atension in power cord 606 as a function of angular velocity of reel 604.If the force is released, then the tension in power cord 606 and theenergy stored in spring 640 may cause reel 604 to angularly displace andpower cord 606 to recoil about reel 604. Subsequently, damper 642 maydissipate energy as a function of angular velocity of reel 604 anddamper 642 may cause power cord 606 to coil about reel 604 withdecreased angular velocity.

Damper 642 may actuate when reel 604 is rotated in a first direction,and damper 642 may not actuate when reel 604 is rotated in a seconddirection. The first direction may be rotationally opposite the seconddirection. For example power cord 606 may be uncoiled from reel 604,which may cause reel 604 to be rotated in the first direction.Subsequently, while power cord 606 is uncoiled from reel 604, damper 642may not actuate.

Power drop assembly 600 may further include hose reel stopper 644mechanically attached to power cord 606. Power cord 606 may pass throughaperture 646 in power cord housing 602. Hose reel stopper 644 mayprevent power cord 606 from coiling about reel 604 by having geometrywhich cannot pass through aperture 646 of power cord housing 602. Hosereel stopper 644 may have geometry which is spherical having a diameterof a greater magnitude than a width, length, or thickness belonging toaperture 646. Hose reel stopper 644 may be adjustable to be moved todifferent locations along power cord 606.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 6 with a lock mechanism.Power drop assembly 700 may include tilt lock mechanism 748 mechanicallyattached to reel 704. Tilt lock mechanism 748 may also be mechanicallyattached to power cord housing 702. Tilt lock mechanism 748 may engageor disengage to, respectively, disallow or allow reel 704 to angularlydisplace. Tilt lock mechanism 748 may engage or disengage based upontranslational acceleration of reel 704 with respect to power cordhousing 702. For example, a force may be used to pull power cord 706such that power cord 706 is at an angle, with a magnitude greater than apreset angle value, with respect to vertical (where vertical may mean adirection oriented with acceleration due to gravity). The force on powercord 706 may cause reel 704 to accelerate along a horizontal direction(where horizontal direction may mean a direction perpendicular tovertical), engaging tilt lock mechanism 748. If the force is removed,tilt lock mechanism 748 may remain engaged until power cord 706 isuncoiled by an amount from reel 704. Spring 740 may coil power cord 706in absence of the force, while tilt lock mechanism 748 is disengaged.

Power drop assembly 700 may include velocity lock mechanism 750mechanically attached to reel 704. Velocity lock mechanism 750 may alsobe mechanically attached to power cord housing 702. Velocity lockmechanism 750 may engage or disengage to, respectively, disallow orallow reel 704 to angularly displace. Velocity lock mechanism 750 mayengage or disengage based upon translational velocity of reel 704 withrespect to power cord housing 702. For example, a force may be used topull power cord 706. The force on power cord 706 may cause reel 704 tohave an angular velocity above a preset angular velocity threshold,causing velocity lock mechanism 750 to engage. If the force is removed,velocity lock mechanism 750 may remain engaged until power cord 706 isuncoiled by an amount from reel 704. Spring 740 may coil power cord 706in absence of the force, while velocity lock mechanism 750 isdisengaged.

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a light. Power dropassembly 800 may include multiple female power outlets 852 mechanicallyand electrically attached to power cord 806. At least one of multiplefemale power outlets 852 may include light 854 attached to the at leastone of multiple female power outlets 852. Light 854 may be electricallyconnected to power cord 806. Light 854 may be any of a variety oflights, including a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent light,an arc light, or a laser light.

Switching circuitry 812 may selectably electrically connect each ofmultiple female power outlets 852 via power cord 806 and electricalinput 810. Controller 814 may instruct switching circuitry 812 to allowelectrical current from electrical input 810 to flow to all of multiplefemale power outlets 852. Controller 814 may instruct switchingcircuitry 812 to allow electrical current from electrical input 810 toflow to one, multiple, or none of multiple female power outlets 852. Forexample, Controller 814 may instruct switching circuitry 812 to allowelectrical current from electrical input 810 to flow to the at least oneof multiple female power outlets 852, and subsequently to light 854,while disallowing electrical current from electrical input 810 to flowto any other of multiple power outlets 852.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 8 with a sprinkler. Powerdrop assembly 900 may include multiple female power outlets 952. Atleast one of multiple female power outlets 952 may include sprinklersystem 956 attached to the at least one of multiple female power outlets952. Sprinkler system 956 may also be electrically connected to powercord 906.

Sprinkler system 956 may include water supply line 958 and sprinkler960. Sprinkler 960 may be fluidly connected with water supply line 958such that sprinkler 960 may draw water from water supply line 958 andsprinkle said water. Sprinkler system 956 may actuate to sprinkle waterwhen the at least one of multiple female power outlets 952 receivescurrent flow or a electrical potential difference from electrical input910 via switching circuitry 912 and power cord 906.

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 with a circuit breaker.Switching circuitry 1012 of power drop assembly 1000 may include circuitbreaker 1062. Circuit breaker 1062 may connect electrical input 1010 topower cord 1006. Circuit breaker 1062 may disallow electrical current toflow from electrical input 1010 to power cord 1006 if a magnitude ofelectrical current flowing through circuit breaker 1062 is greater thana preset current flow threshold. Circuit breaker 1062 may be resetmanually or via switching circuitry 1012. For example, a magnitude ofelectrical current flowing through circuit breaker 1062 may be greaterthan the preset electrical current flow threshold. Circuit breaker 1062may disallow current to flow from electrical input 1010 to power cord1006. Switching circuitry 1012 may subsequently send circuit breakerstate data to controller 1014. Controller 1014 may process the circuitbreaker state data. Controller 1014 may alert a user that circuitbreaker 1062 has disallowed current flow from electrical input 1010 topower cord 1006. Controller 1014 may receive instructions from the user.Controller 1014 may send restart instructions to circuit breaker 1062.Circuit breaker 1062 may subsequently allow electrical current to flowfrom electrical input 1010 to power cord 1006.

Circuit breaker 1062 may be a relay electrically connected to controller1014 via wiring 1064. Controller 1014 may apply an electrical currentand/or an electrical potential difference across wiring 1064 such thatcircuit breaker 1062 disallows or allows electrical current to flow fromelectrical input 1010 to power cord 1006.

1. A power drop assembly comprising: a power cord housing; a reelpositioned within and rotatably connected to the power cord housing; apower cord mechanically attached to the reel; a female power outletmechanically and electrically attached to the power cord; an electricalinput; switching circuitry electrically connected to the electricalinput and electrically connected to the power cord, wherein theswitching circuitry selectively, electrically connects the electricalinput and the power cord; and a controller communicatively connected tothe switching circuitry for controlling the switching circuitry.
 2. Thepower drop assembly of claim 1, further comprising power throttlingcircuitry electrically connected to the power cord, wherein the powerthrottling circuitry allows variable amounts of power to be consumed viathe power cord.
 3. The power drop assembly of claim 1, wherein theswitching circuitry comprises electrical usage circuitry for monitoringelectrical usage of the power cord.
 4. The power drop assembly of claim3, wherein the electrical input comprises a power rail input.
 5. Thepower drop assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical input comprises amale power input.
 6. The power drop assembly of claim 1, wherein theelectrical input comprises a female power output.
 7. The power dropassembly of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceivercommunicatively connected to the controller.
 8. The power drop assemblyof claim 1, further comprising a motor mechanically attached to the reeland mechanically attached to the power cord housing.
 9. The power dropassembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring mechanically attachedto the reel and mechanically attached to the power cord housing.
 10. Thepower drop assembly of claim 9, further comprising a damper mechanicallyattached to the reel and mechanically attached to the power cordhousing.
 11. The power drop assembly of claim 9, further comprising atilt lock mechanism mechanically attached to the reel and mechanicallyattached to the power cord housing.
 12. The power drop assembly of claim9, further comprising a velocity lock mechanism mechanically attached tothe reel and mechanically attached to the power cord housing.
 13. Thepower drop assembly of claim 9, further comprising a hose reel stoppermechanically attached to the power cord.
 14. The power drop assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising multiple female power outlets mechanicallyand electrically attached to the power cord.
 15. The power drop assemblyof claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiple female power outletscomprises a light attached to the at least one of the multiple femalepower outlets and electrically connected to the power cord.
 16. Thepower drop assembly of claim 14, wherein at least one of the multiplefemale power outlets comprises a sprinkler system attached to the atleast one of the multiple female power outlets and electricallyconnected to the power cord.
 17. The power drop assembly of claim 1,wherein the switching circuitry comprises a circuit breaker.
 18. Thepower drop assembly of claim 17, wherein the circuit breaker is a relayelectrically connected to the controller.
 19. The power drop assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the power cord housing comprises mounting bracketsmechanically attached to a top portion of the power cord housing. 20.The power drop assembly of claim 3, wherein the controller controls theswitching circuitry based on the electrical usage of the power cord.